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I 7 A II M E R R R O W N. Mr*. Browii, and five little? Riowiir ! | ** wore at dinner. It was a (7~* few days before Christinas and the question which was disturbing their minds was what to have for dinner 011 Christmas Day. A groat deal of the talking was being done by the live little Brownies, as ibey were called. They chattered and laughed, and quarreled, too, I fear. Sometimes their father and mother got a word in edgeways. "Of course, we must have a turkey," fluid Mrs. Brown. " Did one with lots of wish hones," cried Brownie Xo. "so wo eau all nvish." "Ain't we going to have any pic7" chimed in the youugest. "Well," said Mr. Brown, "I think pumpkin will do. it is tli** h aiihiest. This with a smack of bis lips. "Yes, it's the best, too." chimed in tjie little Brown, who had asked l'or it. In spile of a stern giauee from bather Brown, and a sharp "Hush" l'roui his mother. "There's a big pumpkin in the barn, ' that will make a dozen pi< V said Mrs. I Brown, "beside, throe smaller ones." I { "Yes," replied Mr. Brown, "I know. As soon as dinner is over we'll go out ' " flincI - Fight G\ J^' '"?4^~'*'-5- iac i # ifife ; * ' f iff* 3 ?vriatmj < ~\ Wir\cJ t>lev/ Ki ? qj ' jJV*^ -fffrflfft O ? k V/sQ T^H< t^g'^C }>ui\st i< \ .ijfllS^if *1 ? ... i **Cf . I HJi.CC 0\riatmM PltxhU; littlt -sister f" . Ov?rWownJ tht rrvuilc-Jjox ? tK?n tVytre w?r? 2. otooaatoo. JVO Ckr i-stma.s Pr?A?ht.?j. jSO'\S' Dicky Wc)\t to run, ).' Cell and -smasktcl Kia . 5 W.itck - glass?tKct\ <k?re v/a^ f. L ^ to tlie barn, and sop which oiip we will | nocd. That blp one is too large, I ' think, but we will see." Ar scon as the incal was over the Mthole family, Mr. Brown and Mrs. Brown, and the live small Brownies, *11 trooped out to the barn, to pick out the pumpkin that was to bo converted into pics for the Christmas dinner. Up the stairH they went to the hay loft, where lay tlio four blp, j ellow pumpkins, all ripe and mellow. After a long discussion as to the acetic of the family in the pic lino, Vr. sad Mrs. Brown decided to use the biggest one, so Mr. Brown picked il 'tp ind sol It at tha head of the stairs, : / / 1 JCAI'.'IKG A"I> IIi'i 2'IS.?. J Yt*'u?iv it "?v on Id bp rer.dy lit lie brought (y the Kitchen wlion want; <1. Tlii i all the ftrovrns, Mr. Itrovrn awl "Sirs. Krowu nnd tiie live little Brown-, Jo?, Koleiunly filed downstairs Mr. Ii vow si to see to tli? chick; in, Mrs. Brown to l:er suwing and the five anul! Brownies to play. JLc F.oon a? the family had ffor.e the big pumpkin which had been chosen lri,.tu to tremble all over, ' like a bowl % ** I lllijji ful ol' JelJy." as the poem says of Santa Clans when lie lauglicil. Did yon ever see a pumpkin tremble? No? Nor I, but this one was different from the kinds that grow now, for he trembled and shook like n leaf. The medium sized pumpkin said to the big one: "1 told you so. You were so proud at b?iug the biggest. Now you see what will happen. You'll be made luto pica, like your brother was ou Thanksgiving Day." v All the smaller puinpkius laughed at this and the big fellow grew white through his yellow skin. "Well, I'll make more pies than any of you will." he replied, "and better oiios, too; that is. if I don't escape." "Escape!" exclaimed nil the others in a breath. "Why." continued one follow with a lump on the side of his head, "Why, you're so fat'that you can't even walk, let alone run." This settled matters for a few moments, till a sound was heard on the floor below. Tills set the big follow all a-tremble again, for he was sure it was the farmer conic to make him iuto pies. But it was a false alarm. It was John, the hired innn, talking to his brother, Jim, the gardener. "Yes," jfSlll '[CN Qxri-stmaa Prc?ei\:.s, a Polly choked tk, clolly ? tker 9 ? 9 ? ? Pr?.v.r\t.s, jomt ^tnall, 50m* great;, kifcy tore tkc picture-bcok ? tlvU* <ktt"C v/Crt u o a . ? o Cl\rulmaa PriatKts; Rrb a:\cl Dick ai\e{ Bevarv :r broke tkc rockii\g-korae? tl\et\ tl\erc Were 7OOOOOO.OO ri-straaa P?-tAci\toTvnr.tvy,' tl?3otick3,, / I. a.% . UN A - - r I lil*! 1*1.14 V vr\cr?, ZY-( \/cvt 6. VyaCfij^T, ^jja I o 9 ? o o vv^^N. i9 Pi'*9Ct\t9; Jimmy */(i\t to c]riv<, vj> aW?y ? tK?i\ iktr* jVcr{ 6- nS^_ o o '? io'o * ~ Wr-1 rrZ?^ ^ a s Prc*.*r\{ a;T < krougk . <j\ ofxfx |{V ^ . kittt.V r&K aWay?tkc'V tktr^ W?r( fy. V >' '? ,>0 O O 9 itma^ Pr*A??\l9, b?a\itiful to acc{( ta boiler ? tlvrr* tl\tr? v/erc r). il, ?, 0rir ?^'-atm:wv "Gf^^f *"~- ate op all the ca"\i lie was snyinp, "wo must liave some fun on Christinas Eve. Let's make a jnek o' lantern." The pumpkins were ail attention. "The very thins," exclaimed Jim, "and there's half a dozen pumpkins or so up stairs in the loft. 1 saw them Hi i other day when I was looking for a rake." "That's so," replied John; "one is a /is oiu-, i reuiemner. ne'U make a line lantern." "Well, I'll go pet a knife," said .Tim, "and you hunt up a pole to put it on. We'll scarce the whole village; that's what we~?l do," and they ran out into the yard. Upstairs all was still as a mouse, while the men were talking, but a a soon as ihey left a great commotion sprang up. "A jack-o-lanlern," exclaimed the medium-sized pumpkin to tlie big one, "not even a decent pie. Ila, lia, ha." The others all joined lu the laugh, while the poor doom d one could hardly contain himself, in fact, he almost split with rage, jump.ng tip and down and shaking his lis; at the others iili| the little one hid himself for protection. "And what will become of all of you?" shouted the liig one, "if Hoy make a jack-o-lanteru of iue;" The laughing stopped. "Why. two of you will be taken t? make pics, and you'll be boiled and mashed and baked and then eni.n, while I will enjoy myself scaring poopie, just ns I nm scaring you now." lu spite of what he said, he didn't lock ii.n though he would enjoy it much, but ho coutluued: I mA "Yes, If they make a lantern oat of me. I'll just grin and bear it. aud the more I grin the more folks will be scared and the more folks are scared the more I will grin." "If you grin loo much," put in the one with the lump, "your mouth will meet at the back of your neck aud the top of your head will come oh'." "Silence!" shouted the big fellow, jtunpiug up and down. "Silence, all f f you. I hear some one coming." Voices were indeed heard and the farmer entered the barn, talking to himself. "Why don't you run," piped the little pumpkin, becoming brave, as he hoard the farmer preparing to mount the stairs. 4*Yos lllirrv nnil oconnn" cull! lumpy one, "why don't you run or roil, us you say you cau do so gracefully." This was too much for the big one, who was iu a towcriug rage, and was jumping up ami down like a rubber ball, lie was close to the head cf the stairs, aud as lie heard the farmer coining up lie gave a big leap, and missing his,balance, down he rolled. Bump ? bump ? bumpety ? thump! ltight oa to ihe farmer's head he went, and thcu fell with a smash ou the lloor. where lie was dashed inio a thousand pieces. The farmer was stunucd by the blow for a moment and couldn't hiuk what it was that had hit him. But lie turned aud saw ihe wreck of the big pumpkin that was to have served for the Christmas dinner, lying about tlie floor. "Dear me! dear me!" he exclaimed, "there goes that biggest pumpkiu all i MSSCT" 'I h(W v <hcr? v.'cr< 9- r ' VS iX-; "<_/ >% if <%r-M ;l siii K Pre-ststj With laughter *iv| fui\ .V?/ Js??tK?i\ tbr? Wm 0. Q O ? 0 0 ss^" " if e ttr\ ChnAtnvna Pl'ijiftti^ kJ^ >/her\ th? day cUwi\(d brigl'*: ^CrC J\?rr\ Wm Uft ot\ ChriAtrra^ .\ight' * * >HF Havviot IWrvrR .STrgLisa. *X. ?Youth'? Companion. to smithereens. This barn is setting so old and rickety, 1 ought to have known better than to have put that pumpkin at the top of the stairs, where it could bo jarred down." "Well, then, there's nothing to do but to take two of the smaller ones," and suiting the action to the word lie walked up stairs and carried off the two bigger pumpkins, leaving the little fellow all alone, trembling with fear, yet thanking his stars at bis es cape. His joy, however, was short-lived. An instant later tLc hired man came upstairs. When he saw only the one small pumpkin he scratched his head a moment and then said: "Well! well! So the old mnu has left only the little one after all. lie must like pies! There were four hero this morning." So picking up tin? liitle pumpkin, who was fainting from fright, he carried him otT. The next day all that remained of the four pumpkins were a dozen pies, 1 a jaek-o-lamern and a lot of smashed 1 pumpkin on the ash heap. Mortimer Foray the, In the Krooklyn Eagle. fBPlSS? I teco ration* Liel Till Tirrlfth liny. All Christinas decorations, according to the English Idea, should he left in position till Twelfth day, and n sprig of holly should remain somewhere hj each room till Ash Wednesday. t % # Rearing Santa Claul. You afraid of Santa Claus? Goodness me, I'm not! I'm lots too bi^ to let hint make tne scared; 'Sides, a year ago I saw him, rij;ht on Christmas five. So now he wouldn't scold nte if he . i t Yes, sirrco! Tie's big and fat, like his pictures are; An' I was sillin' by the chtmhley. too. When he lit rieiit on the hearth, shook the snow hakes off, Au' turned to nte, un' says: "Why, howdy do?" Nen 1 run back to the doo**?so's to lock him in? "I'm pretty well," 1 ?ays, an' ncn we sac An' talked a lot about bis work, an' he told me, he did, 'Twas hard to get around when you're bo fat. | ' "V IV mc-by I siyi. "1 hope you won't forget nie Christmas Day. Although I'm noi, the be I of children, 'cause If you should do so. I'm afraid I'd have j to tell the boys That b'lieve in you "There ain't no Santa Clams!" I My! D:dn't lie turn pale! lie caught holt o' tuy hand; Says "Don't <!o tint, picnic, for I like you, I'll give yon heaps o' things you want, 'f you'll b'lieve in ine. An* let the other children do so, too!" So we made a 'j rccincnl, an' I will hive some things At Christmas time, yon bat! What's that you say? Don't b'lieve I ever sca'Til old Santa Clans? Well, now. Jest ask hill, if you see him Christmas Day! Tlin lii'imlt ?if Kuvironmont* "I tell you Santa Clans Is tall and tliiii." "And I toll you ho is short ami fat." M Th? i t s;x'tdive |cd the slturtiou.?Judge. tVliat a "Yuletltlc" Mrnnt. "Yuletlde" is, of course, again to the fore. It is a good enough word, euphonious and convenient. But there is no use in investing in syllables with too much glamor of medieval poetry and romance. The cold, concrete fact is that it means the tline of yelling, or yowling," not to say caterwauling. By all means let us have a merry yuletide, but let us not "make Itome howl" too much, nor let our yule festivities become?aft the name might imply?u katzenjamrner.?New York Tribune. on lilt lieu HUH r'Jf Coii^omir.? ,?' PvW.li tur'pj. ('.f.rnj. iluf/.r.} Cr?r.t?rry 5?u?trt?hf4 Pbt!j*l l..-Rinfa (elei'J Tc.ij Oreo; nit. (fiictrn p.r t?K?f *.? ?. e a"&rj Turnip ucu&'.V L'Uuff.Wil.n Trtnrh ilnfilir.s. C.r.i<*cr> eni ?.hcfi?- _/ flujn pu4cl.nr. It< trtam- _ W Hufj * \\ivni tensor,% VZ'JZ* Coffer ^ ( \ \ Hir> I.ltiln Cellular'* Choice. 'Though I were sleepy ns a cat,** The little scholar (-ahl, "I would not care to take a nap lii any river's bod. "And, though I were 90 starved I scarce Him htrongt'i enough to Hiumt, IM l?eg through all the valley ere 1 sought a table laud. "Ba', oh ! what jolly times I'd havo ! I'd plav itud never stop. If I could only take a set tug Aad spiu a uiouutaiu lop. Wliat You >eo in a I'tnnjr. An amusing game called" What You See in a Penny" is ndi .ruble for older children, any party of young people, or Indeed any gathering where games arc in order. The materials required are a card to which are attached a penny, and a pencil for each player, with a prize for the winner. On one side of each card should be written the name of the guests, on the other the following list, equivalents for which are to be fo' nd in the design on the penny. For the sake of convenience these last arc also given, but j wh< n the game is to he played this j completed list must be kept by the ! hi itess for reference; that shown in j the left column only is given to the ! guests, as the tun lies in testing their I ability to find ll><? colnllnno. A weapon?an arrow. What our forefathers fought for? Liberty. Name of a (lower?Tulips (two lips). Name of an animal?Hare (hair). Name of fruit?Date. What we love?America. Name for an ocean?Sea (C). Place of worship?Temple. A messenger?one sent (one cent). A niv hod of voting?Ayes and noes (eyes and nose). A beverage?Tea. Part of a vegetable?Ear. A gallant?lleau (how). An art of protection?Shield. A punishment?Stripes. A term of marriage?United State. An ancie nt honor?Wreath. Part of a hill?Prow. An occupation?Milling. Writing front the absent?l.etters. One of the first families?Indian. I More ca*n be added if the gametea Uer is clover enough to see more in the penny. i When tin* guests arrive each one receives a card and when all is in read 11 nk all that illustrate one city together. A boy of 12 has a really fine book of this sort, full of interesting pictures of St. Petersburg. Edinburgh, London. Merlin. Paris, Moston. St. Louis and other cities. His plan in most cases is to paste a picture of some famous public square in the middle of the large page, and group the buildings around it. In this way he has acquired a good deal of information about those cities.?New York Tribune. 1 lif Th'c of n l?o(?, "Speaking of dogs." said the r.lster of a Mobile boat club man. the other day. "there was a qucior thing happened recently. Charlie, that's my brother, told it to inc. so I can vouch for its tru'h. "It appears that one of the young fellows belonging to the boat club has u pretty hot. tinderlike temper, although he's a mighty clever and goodhearted b'.y. Well, ft little hybr>J pup that belongs to the man that tends to the club house, chewed up a flvo dollar hat belonging to 'Dobblo' I incss t ho hostess announces itk purpose and gives a signal for the writing to begin. As a rule a half hour i<j sufficient to allow, but if the players me younger children, or more time is required, it can he extended at discretion. When the hell is sounded all the cards are collected, and the writer who is most nearly correct wins the prize.?Home Magazine. llrll^lit fill N?-r>i|it>r>nlv?. One of the most absorbing amusements possible to find for children is the making of scranbooks. The rainiest of days may be made enjoyable by I o -i?*? .. .. ? mtbu niirna 01 snuiij; wrapping paper, cut in the size desired for the book and folded into two leaves, with a collection of old magazines and papers lull of pictures. A novel kind of scrapbook recently made represents a doll house, each page being a room. Advertisements furnished the pictures, each article Illustrated being carefully cut out in outline and pasted in an orderly manner on the page to which It belonged. The kitchen has a range, table, chairs, broom, cooking utensils, lron3 and ironing board. In the drawing room are sumptuous couches, chairs and cabinets, with a perfect love of a fireplace, and vases on the mantel. Windows, doors and fireplaces for all the rooms were found in the advertising pages of magazines, and add greatly to the charm of the surroundings. This is a delightful play where there are several children in a family. One can undertake to furnish a library, and will look for library tables, hookshelves. renrttnar lamno places, "Sleepy Hollow chairs," and Sll h annrnnrlntn nlctumo Another could take a bedroom and cut out pretty brass bedsteads, dainty washstands and dressing cases and cosey chairs. Tho dining room offers a promising field, as there are countless Illustrations of sideboards, dining tables, pretty dishes and so on. Older children often derive a good deal of fun from making scrapbooks of cities. This Is done by cutting out pictures of buildings and squares, put -? 11 < Blank?that's the fellow with the tin* derlike temper?and it mado him mighty hot, I reckon. He swore he'd s kill that pup, and he just chased him ffVBj all over the pier. . " "But the pup wan too lively for him. and led him a regular dance. Finallv 'Bobbie' got him cornered out at the pier head and the pup. as a last resort. Jumped overboard into the bay. Over went Bobbie' after him, and swam him down, for the dog was no swimmer. Well, gir'3. Charlie said 'Bob' just pounded the face of that pup and ducked him under tho water so much that two or threo women standing round .-'aid ho was a perfect brute. "And now comes the strange part. The next day 'Bobbie' went down to the clubhouse. Thcro was an awful sea on. Charlie vows he never saw a worse one on old Mobile bay. The water was breaking right over tho pier and sending the utids clean over the clubhouse roof. 'Ilohbic' had to make a run to get down the pier ns far as the clubhouse. The pup saw him running, and thinking, I reckon, that he was going to be smashed again, he sneaked down the pier and jumped off tho end, right in among the broken rocks and jagged piles. "it was sure death for tho dog, with such n sea running. 'Bobble' stood suddenly still uud ilgured for a secend. He's a mighty clover boatman. and a lirst rate swimmer, but Charlie says 'Bob' knew a man with a boat hadn't one chance in a thousand' of . getting out to that pup and getting in again safe. "Now, girls, what do you suppose 'Bobbie' Blar.lt did? He turned round yind went into tho clubhouse, flung off his coat uml shoes, got down a boat, and somehow got her over the lee side of the nier and tumbled into her. He got the pup nil right; but it was a quer think lor him to do, now. wasn't it? To risk his life for a worthless cur that he'd been bent on drowning tho day before." A Mnrr for Our llojra. The principal of a school in which hoys were prepared for college one day received a message from a lawyer living in tiro same town, requesting him to call at his office as he wished to have a talk with him. Arrived at tho olilce, the lawyer stated that lie had in his gift a scholarship entitling a boy to a four years' I mnrcA i?. ? I? 11 ? ?. * 11? <.??>>?; 111 a IVII.UII lUIIUgt;, UUI1 Willi lie wished to bestow it where it would be best used. * "Therefore." ho eontlnucd, "I havo concluded to let you decide which boy of your school most deserves it." "That is a hard question," replied the teacher thoughtfully. "Two of my pupils?Charles Hart and Henry Strong?will complete the course of study in my school this year, lloth desire a college education, and neither is able to obtain it without assistance. They are so nearly equal that 1 cannot tell which is the better scholar?" "How is it as to daportmont?" asked the lawyer. "One boy does not more scrupulously observe all the rules of the school than the other," was the answer. "Well," said tho lawyer, "if at the end of the year ono boy has not gone ahead of tho other, send them to uie and I will decide." As before, at tho closing examina tioris the boys stood equal In attainments. They were directed to call at the lawyer's office, no Information being given as to the object of tho visit. Two intelligent, well-bred boys they seemed, and the lawyer was beginlng to wonder greatly how ho Bliould make a decision between them. Just then the door opened and an elderly lady of peculiar appearance entered. She was well known as lining of unsettled mind and possessed of tho idea that she had been deprived of a large fortune which was Justly hers. As a consequence she was in tho habit of vis hands a package of papers which she wished examined. She was a familiar visitor to this office, where she was \ always received with rc3pect. \ This morning, seeing that the law- v yer was already occupied with others, she seated herself to await his leisure. Unfortunately, the chair she selected was broken nnd had been set aside as useless. The result was that she fell in a rather awkward manner, scattering her papers about the floor. Tho lawyer looked with a quick eye at the boys before moving hlmsolf, to see what they would do. Charles Hart, after an amused survey of the fall, turned aside to hide ^ a laugh. Henry Strong sprang to tho woman's side and lifted her to her feet. Then, carefully gathering up her papers, he politely handed them to her. Her profuse and rambling thanks only served to increase Charles's amusement. After the lady had told her customary story, to which tho lawyer listened with every appearance of attention. he escorted her to tho door and she departed. Then he returned to the hoys, and, after expressing pleasure at havins A formed ?helr acpmlntanee, he dls- A missed them The uext day the teachor was informed of the occurrence, and told that the scholarship would be given to Honry Strong, with the remark: "No one so well deserves to ^^H bo fiti< (! for a position of honor and ii.ruMK as be w 1:o fools It. duty i ^H to help the numhbst and the lowliest." |H ?Our Dumb Animals. JH lloit A1??itr<1! H "Did you hear the terrible storm IB last night, Sarah':' / B "No, not a sound. Did It thunder?" J "Terribly." "Why, didn't you wake me? You f know ; can't sleep when It thunders." H| ?Ma < .'icster Timea HI